Notch

A notch, in relation to buildings is a carpentry term describing a method of cutting away a portion of solid structure, to create a joint, layer, corner or feature ( may also be referred to as cogged or corked joint) . These types of notch joint are commonly used in the construction of timber frame elements such as roof structure (bird mouth notch) or in the construction of log buildings where logs are laid at right angles to create a corner. They may also be simple carvings into beams or columns for aesthetic effect.

In mechanical engineering and material science, V, U or semi-circle notches maybe cut into a surface to help determine the fracture mechanics of the material, as any stresses will be concentrated around its area. The term notch is also used in fluid dynamics to describe an opening in one side of a tank or a reservoir, like a large orifice, with the upstream liquid level below the top edge of the opening.

Some examples of different notches might include:

• Rabbet notch - a small recessed groove or channel cut along the edge of a piece of wood, allowing second to overlap.
• Through Notch - cutting through the depth of the wood, for example to create a tenon.
• Blind Notching - similar to a rabbet but crossways to create half-lap joints and dovetail joints
• Wedge notch - a v shaped notch to form a joint that is secured with a wedge such as mortice and tenon.
• Saddle notch- associated with log construction, a rounded cut to allow another log to saddle at right angles to the first.
• Dado Notching - cutting a groove near the edge of a length of timber, for another to joint creating a corner.
• Dovetail Notching - a full depth tenon cut but at an angle to help create a secure joint.
• Mortise and Tenon notching - referred to as a joint in English, a full depth square on both sides at the end of a timber..
• Butt and Pass notch - A method, creating a corner one layer of logs butt to the next, whilst the next passes the end.
• Vee notch - is essentially a standard notch, the term is more commonly associated with water engineering techniques.

See also: Notching.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Assembly.
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• Building element.
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• Component.
• Concrete joint.
• Connection.
• Construction joint.
• Contraction joint.
• Crack control joint.
• Daywork joint.
• Dowelled joint.
• Expansion joint.
• Finger joint.
• Joggle joint.
• Joint v connection.
• Junction.
• Mortar joint.
• Mortise and tenon joint.
• Movement joint.
• Notching.
• Off-site prefabrication of buildings: A guide to connection choices.
• Road joints.
• Rub joint.
• Scarf joint.
• Shrinkage joint.
• Tongue and groove joint.
• Warping joint.